Hello all!
I've got great news in this first update about how I'm getting to have my Top Surgery.
Some background information explaining how I got to this stage.
I was referred from a local mental health clinic as well as my Pediatrician to attend the gender clinic at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne at the age of 15.
I visited them monthly for about a year and a half before being given the go ahead, I then was required to attend the family court for approval to start HRT.
I had lawyers prepared to work Pro-Bono but I bypassed the family court by (sort of) forum shopping. I was able to begin HRT at 16 because my GP and referring pediatrician both work through NSW.
In my last post I mentioned Dr. Michelle Telfer mentioning she would discuss with Andy Ives whether or not herself and Dr. Cambell Paul would be able to refer me to Andy Ives for my top surgery through the Royal Children's Hospital.
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And now for the update!
I'm incredibly excited right now, as you may be able to tell. I emailed Dr. Michelle Telfer together regarding her discussions with Andy Ives as well as some other local and statewide work that the two of us are doing together. She responded to my email within the hour, informing me that her discussion with Andy had been a success!
Andy Ives has agreed to see me regarding my Top Surgery after I turn 18 with a referral from my current treating psychiatrist (regarding my GID).
If you are underage and have been put on HRT through the Royal Childrens hospital, you are required to get two new psych. letters through Monash before being referred to Andy Ives.
Well not anymore my lucky little children!
I am greatly hoping that this will mean more referrals in the future being sent to Andy straight from the RCH, and hopefully to other surgeons as well in the future!
Back to updating you all, Dr. Michelle Telfer has emailed Dr. Campbell Paul on my behalf, requesting a referral to see Andy Ives. She is also seeing him tomorrow in the clinic and will be discussing it with him then. I have (slightly high) hopes that I will receive the referral within the next few days.
Next fun update,
I'm 18 next weekend! (22nd)
For you Aussies, you know that means I'll be enjoying a large indulgence of cheap alcohol and Melbourne culture. (and also the mandatory responsibility of voting)
My father hopes that, should we have the referral this week, we may be able to see Andy Ives on the Friday before or the Monday/Tuesday after my birthday weekend (next weekend if you didn't catch that). This, I think, is incredibly high hopes, but for some reason I've had uncanny luck throughout my transition thus far, so knock on wood.
My Private health insurance 12 month waiting period is still not going to kick in until June 16th regardless, but should Andy be able to get me in sooner, I've no doubt he wouldn't mind waiting. Dad also has this idea that we might still need to pay everything out of pocket, and then just get rebate from NIB, which means that even if he can get me in sooner we can do that and still get the money back. I'm not quite sure if that's right or not, but hey I'm hoping not because I don't have money.
Which brings me to the last part of this lengthy update. I can start saving now. I've moved back in with my parents, and in order to save $5,000 within 12 weeks I need to save $416 a week. At my current wage that's 29 hours a week, which seems impossible and like I'd have no spare pay.
Wrong.
McDonald's has recently bumped me back up to 30+ hours a week, and we shan't forget that all-important night job. On top of this, hello let's talk about 18 year old pay rise. Wew! And in case this still fails, my parents have money they can borrow from the mortgage.
So that brings us to the end of Part Two of what will hopefully only be a four part story! If you made it this far without skipping, post a shout out for yourself 'cause you rad as.
Don't waste your day, my lovelies.
tripdistrans (aka Riley , yeah I got a real name waddup)
